“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." - C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Some of our youngest students have been running into their classrooms this week, eagerly looking for signs of change. Our preschool 4 and kindergarten students have been watching as their new class pets have been forming chrysalides. These little pets have been the talk of the teachers’ lounge as well, as the nervous “parents” compare notes about how to carefully make the transfer to the butterfly garden net without any casualties. Our students’ imaginations have been going wild, predicting the colors and designs of the butterflies which will soon hatch.
Change is so exciting for our kids, why is it so scary and challenging for us? As the 2010-2011 school year ends and we begin preparations for the next year, it is time for change. We have recognized opportunities to improve, and if we stay still, our school won’t continue to progress. Here are some of the changes ahead:
Name Change – In 2002, St. Matthias and Transfiguration Schools and Parishes were merged to become one, under the leadership of one pastor. Last July, Cardinal George and Bishop Kane recognized the unique needs of the two Churches and decided to appoint a pastor to each campus once again, thus re-establishing St. Matthias Parish and Transfiguration Parish. Because we were historically the parish school of St. Matthias, we have become the single parish’s school once again, and will call ourselves St. Matthias School. You will notice name changes on logos and signage, but nothing else. We are still a Catholic school serving the Lincoln Square neighborhood and beyond, including children in the parishes of Transfiguration, Our Lady of Mercy, and Our Lady of Lourdes to name a few. We remain the school and community that you chose and belong to.
Uniform Change – Because we will begin phasing in a new name on our logo it seemed a natural time to make changes to our uniform. Several parents, teachers, and even students have expressed an interest in making improvements to our uniform for the past few years. The suggested improvements include bringing back a plaid skirt/jumper, offering dressier options, improving the quality, changing the colors to be in line with our school colors of blue and gold, and tightening up the implementation of our dress code. A committee of parents have been working hard comparing various vendors and options and will be presenting their recommendations at the May 12th PILLARS Meeting. I think this committee did a fine job evaluating the many factors of price, comfort, look, quality, and convenience. They are looking for your feedback on May 12th to help make a final decision. There is never a good time to make this change. There will always be an incoming 8th grade class with only one year left and families who just invested in several new uniform pieces thinking it would get them through the next year. To help with this, be assured that whatever final decision is made, our current uniforms may continue to be worn next school year during the “grandfather” year.
After Care/After School Activities Improvements –We are also investigating improvements to our After Care structure. After Care is a valuable service to our working parents and also an opportunity for enrichment for our students. We have some wonderful things happening in this program that we want to build off of as we plan for improvements. The after care staff, teachers and I have shared ideas about how we can incorporate clubs and after school activities into the after care structure so that all students can participate, and utilize different age groupings and schedules. Don’t worry – there will be no changes to the hours, and though the price structure may change, the cost per child will not be greatly affected. We are still actively developing these ideas so share your thoughts through the surveys that were given out to after care parents and stay tuned for details the week following Global Fest.
Town Hall Meeting, May 25th – Please mark your calendars. During this conversation you will be updated on planning for our future, including expansions and improvements to our facility and programs. Every one’s input and involvement is important.
Let us put aside the fear, and face the changes with anticipation and hope like our young ones, anticipating the hatching of the butterflies. Together, let us imagine what we can become.
